CAS PH 150 Lecture Notes - Rodney King
11 Mar 2014
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Utilitarianism radical in sense that it challenges some things we think are morally right are actually morally wrong. Some things are morally right that we think are wrong (cannibalism) Objection: utilitarianism requires too much of us, utilitarianism is too impartial (treats everyone equally, burning houses and a mother must save 2 strangers than her one child. Injustice-a student asking for a better grade would improve net well-being but it is not fair. The problem of calculation: one problem is the claim that the utilitarian calculations cannot be done, even in principle. Ought implies can: notice: if utilitarianism requires of us something that is impossible to do, it violates the. Ex: parents helping their own children rather than others" children: utilitarianism encourages injustice sometimes, some examples of injustice that utilitarianism would seem to condone: Killing an innocent but miserable person (net well being is increased)
